Hellish
Welcome to Hellish, the only podcast that comes to you from Hell's waiting room. In each episode, Hell's receptionist Daniel Whelan and Satan's tea boy Alex Gale interrogate a newly damned soul, asking them for the five songs they will meet in Hell: the music that we will use to torment them for all eternity. The condemned take us through songs they are embarrassed to have once liked; songs they can't stand that are otherwise universally adored; songs that remind them of bad times; songs they hate by artists they love; and songs that once stuck in their heads, they can never get out.
Episodes
RJ Barker, writer
Sunday Times bestselling author RJ BARKER magics up the five tracks he will meet in Hell!RJ tells us about his latest smash hit fantasy novel, Mortedant's Peril, and we discuss its unusual main character. Alex gets to chat about his love of David Gemmell, we listen to the greatest earworm in the history of the podcast, a popular thing that nerds like is simultaneously celebrated and given a kickin
The Anchoress, musician & producer
Catherine Anne Davies, aka THE ANCHORESS, produces the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Catherine tells us all about the new Anchoress album, As We Once Were, including how she made it with Pete Townshend's vintage synth collection, and the surprise audio rediscovery that inspired it. We also hear about music video mishaps, sibling rivalry, what Catherine would do if we made her cover a track off
Gary Panton, writer
Writer GARY PANTON gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Gary tells us all about his Laugh Out Loud award nominated children's book series, the Notwitches. We also get to hear about writing for Bluey, Hey Duggee, and the Beano; making the switch from writing for hire to creating your own characters; and Gary puts two tracks in Hell that could get him thrown out of Scotland.Vote for the Not
Jodie McNee, actor
Actor Jodie McNee gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!We talked to Jodie about the first production of the Broadway musical Fun Home, in which she plays legendary cartoonist Alison Bechdel. We also discussed taking jobs that make you uncomfortable, how an actor knows when something is good or not, fake tan, and whether anyone wants any wine.This week we have decided to give you, the non
Rachel Fairburn, comedian
Comedian RACHEL FAIRBURN gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!We are back after four weeks away, and who better to drag you all back to Hell than top comedian Rachel Fairburn? Rachel tells us about her new show, Vexy Beasts, and making the switch between character comedy and stand up. We also talk about working in a library, how Rachel's hit serial killer podcast, All Killa No Filla, inc
Hellish presents ... MAKING TROUBLE WITH MOLLY NAYLOR
Hellish has been taking a break for the last few weeks, but as we didn't want you to be without something to listen to we called in some of our top podcast pals to help us out. We've been running a mini series we're calling 'HELLISH PRESENTS ...' Each week we've introduced you to a podcast we love: there's a short intro from Daniel, and then a whole episode of the show of the week.This week is our
Hellish presents ... THE WELSH MUSIC PODCAST
Hellish is taking a break for the next few weeks, but as we didn't want you to be without something to listen to we've called in some of our top podcast pals to help us out.We're running a mini series we're calling 'HELLISH PRESENTS ...' Each week we're going to be introducing you to a podcast we love: there will be a short intro, and then we'll let you enjoy a whole episode of the show of the wee
Hellish presents .... STARSHIP ALEXANDRIA
Hellish is taking a break for the next few weeks, but as we didn't want you to be without something to listen to we've called in some of our top podcast pals to help us out.We're running a mini series we're calling 'HELLISH PRESENTS ...' Each week we're going to be introducing you to a podcast we love: there will be a short intro, and then we'll let you enjoy a whole episode of the show of the wee
Hellish presents ... SONGS FROM A PADDED ENVELOPE
Hellish is taking a break for the next few weeks, but as we didn't want you to be without something to listen to we've called in some of our top podcast pals to help us out.We're running a mini series we're calling 'HELLISH PRESENTS ...' Each week we're going to be introducing you to a podcast we love: there will be a short intro, and then we'll let you enjoy a whole episode of the show of the wee
John Osborne, writer & storyteller
Writer and storyteller JOHN OSBORNE gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Music is a massive part of John's work as a writer and performer: his career kicked off with a Edinburgh show called John Peel's Shed, and he's also written and performed work called The New Blur Album, and My Car Plays Tapes. As well as getting him to select his Infernal Playlist, we talked about the eighties cartoo
Daisy Buchanan, writer
Writer DAISY BUCHANAN gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Daisy tells us all about her new novel, All Grown Up, which is a modern British reimagining of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. We also talk about tribute bands, indie sleaze, what all the cool kids at the Tory Party Conference listen to, and the ahem suggestive number one record that was bouncing round her head when she had to
James Errington (Centuries of Sound), sound artist
Sound artist, and creator of Centuries of Sound, JAMES ERRINGTON gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!James tells us all about his fascinating Centuries of Sound project, in which he has been producing an audio collage for every year of recorded sound, which goes back a lot further than you'd think and involves a pig, some ink, and a misguided Frenchman. We also get to hear about the pass
Rose Ruane, writer
Writer and artist ROSE RUANE gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Rose talks about moving between art and writing; her love of Manic Street Preachers; the time she walked out of a job AND she names one song in particular a "C*nts' Charter", so that's worth the price of listening alone. (Listening is free. But why not support us on Patreon anyway?)Find Rose on Instagram and BlueSky Get he
Catie Wilkins, comedian & author
Comedian and author CATIE WILKINS gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Catie talks about settling scores in comedy and children's fiction; moving away from stand up and then coming back to it; being lampooned by Steve Martin; and she reveals very incorrect opinions about one of the five tracks she's chosen, according to Daniel anyway. Oh, and she talks about the time she got done for att
Pete Astor, musician
The Loft frontman PETE ASTOR gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Pete told us all about The Loft's new album, Badges, as well as the forty year gap between the band releasing their second single and their first album. We talked about the band's very public end on stage in Hammersmith in 1985, their reunion, and - believe it or not - their favoured choice of travel tavern.Get Badges by th
REDEMPTION SONGS #1: Valerie Phillips
Happy New Year!In this special New Year episode, Alex and Daniel are sent to purgatory to cover holidays. There, they must sit in judgement as a former damned soul offers up their REDEMPTION SONGS in an attempt to escape Hell!They are reunited with the photographer VALERIE PHILLIPS, who was the guest on episode 16 of Hellish (which you will find here). Valerie has three songs with which to convinc
Valerie Phillips, photographer (Extended Patreon Version)
This is a sort-of repeat of one of our favourite episodes, episode sixteen with photographer Valerie Phillips, which originally went out on August 5th 2024. It’s a sort-of repeat, because what we’re putting out today is actually the Patreon version of the episode, so you’ll be getting the ‘Artist in Hell’ section instead of adverts in the middle. If you just want to hear the Patreon bit, skip
24th Dec 2025: Casper & Pam
The Hellish Advent Calendar is ending! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’ve been resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.The final door of the Advent Calendar of Doom creaks open today, to reveal singing sensations CASPER & PAM, who originally joined us for episode 41. (Which was also the first anniversary of
23rd Dec 2025: Alexander Wolfe
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back musician ALEXANDER WOLFE, who originally joined us for episode 54. You can pre-order Alexander’s new album EVERYTHINGLESSNESS here https://alexanderwolfe.bandcamp.com/album/
22nd Dec 2025: Laura Checkley
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back actor LAURA CHECKLEY, who originally joined us for episode 65. You can catch Laura in Dope Girls, now on iPlayer in the UK. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m0028c6h/d
21st Dec 2025: Oliver Lansley
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back writer OLIVER LANSLEY, who originally joined us for episode 46. Oliver’s show, Where’s Wanda?, is on Apple TV https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/wheres-wanda/umc.cmc.k92ure4ft8lmb
20th Dec 2025: Ray Heffernan
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back songwriter RAY HEFFERNAN, who originally joined us for episodes 44 and 45. Find Ray on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/rayjheffernan/Come back tomorrow for the open
19th Dec 2025: Ed Aldridge (altSHIFT)
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back pornographer ED ALDRIDGE, who originally joined us for episode 55. Read about Ed’s film Blowie here https://www.blowiethemovie.comCome back tomorrow for the opening of the n
18th Dec 2025: Molly Naylor
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back podcaster and writer MOLLY NAYLOR, who originally joined us for episode 56. You can hear Making Trouble, Molly’s podcast, here https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/making-tr
17th Dec 2025: Leoni Jane Kennedy
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back musician LEONI JANE KENNEDY, who originally joined us for episode 42. You can listen to (and buy) Leoni’s music here https://leonijanekennedy.bandcamp.comCome back tomorrow
16th Dec 2025: Katie Gill
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back KATIE GILL, who originally joined us for episode 53. Find Katie on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/misskatiegillCome back tomorrow for the opening of the next door
15th Dec 2025: Gill German MP
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back GILL GERMAN MP, who originally joined us for episode 59. Come back tomorrow for the opening of the next door on the Advent Calendar of Doom!If you don't want to wait, and wo
14th Dec 2025: Adam Scott Glasspool
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back podcaster and musician ADAM SCOTT GLASSPOOL, who originally joined us for episode 47. You listen to Adam’s podcast, What is Music?, here https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/813801.
13th Dec 2025: Paul Carter
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back musician PAUL CARTER, who originally joined us for episode 37. You can get music by Paul’s band, Flotation Toy Warning, here https://flotationtoywarning.bandcamp.com/album/b
12th Dec 2025: Catherine Tregenna
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back screenwriter CATHERINE TREGENNA, who originally joined us for episode 61. Catherine’s series, The One That Got Away, is on iPlayer in the UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/ep
11th Dec 2025: Gonzalo C. Garcia
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back GONZALO C. GARCIA, who originally joined us for episode 64 . Gonzalo’s new book, Telenovela, is out now. https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/paperback-shop/telenovelaCome back to
10th Dec 2025: Justin Lewis
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back writer JUSTIN LEWIS, who originally joined us for episode 58. Justin’s new book, Into the Groove, is out now. https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14263/9781783969135Come back tomorrow
9th Dec 2025: Stephen Lobo
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back actor STEPHEN LOBO, who originally joined us for episode 48. Allegiance, in which Stephen stars, is now on U&Alibi in the UK https://www.uandalibi.co.uk/?date=2025-11-24
8th Dec 2025: Nick Roche
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back writer-artist NICK ROCHE, who originally joined us for episode 57. Nick’s graphic novel, Scarenthood, is out now. https://nickrocheart.bigcartel.com/product/scarenthood-sign
7th Dec 2025: Louie Stowell
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back author LOUIE STOWELL, who originally joined us for episode 60. Louie’s latest Loki book is A Bad God’s Guide To Causing Chaos, out now. https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14263/97815
6th Dec 2025: Julia Raeside
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back JULIA RAESIDE, who originally joined us for episode 51. Julia’s latest book, Don’t Make Me Laugh, is out now. https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14263/9781835011881Come back tomorrow
5th Dec 2025: Marc Burrows
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back MARC BURROWS, who originally joined us for episode 39. Marc’s new book on the Christmas number one, Mistletoe and Vinyl, is out now. https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14263/97808571
4th Dec 2025: Emma Newman
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back novelist and podcaster EMMA NEWMAN, who originally joined us for episode 43. Emma’s latest book, The Vengeance, is out now. https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14263/9781837861644 You
3rd Dec 2025: Anthony Spargo
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back ANTHONY SPARGO, who originally joined us for episode 63. Anthony is currently appearing in Peter Pan: A Pantomime Adventure at Greenwich Theatre. Tickets here: https://green
2nd Dec 2025: Janis Pugh
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back film director JANIS PUGH, who originally joined us for episode 34. Janis’s film, Chuck Chuck Baby, is now on Sky Cinema/Now TV https://www.nowtv.com/watch/chuck-chuck-baby/A
1st Dec 2025: Jenny Colgan
The Hellish Advent Calendar is back! Every day in the run up to Christmas we’re resurrecting former guests and forcing an extra song on to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.Today we welcome back novelist JENNY COLGAN, who originally joined us for episode 38. Jenny’s new book, The Secret Christmas Library, is out now. https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14263/9781399734271Come
Laura Checkley, actor
It's the last episode of season three, and what a season it has been! We're ending it in style by getting the incredible LAURA CHECKLEY to give us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Laura's CV is stuffed full of amazing shows, including Detectorists, Red Dwarf, and King Gary, as well no less than three critically acclaimed hit shows this year alone: Dope Girls, The Change, and What It Feels Lik
Gonzalo C. Garcia, writer
The author of Telenovela and We are the End, GONZALO C. GARCIA, gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Gonzalo told us all about his new book, Telenovela, which is set in Chile in the last days of Pinochet's dictatorship. We talked about growing up in and out of Chile, beer, the stupid British citizenship test, and we got a new number one most chosen song in the history of Hellish, displaci
Anthony Spargo, actor, writer, dalek, & panto legend
Actor and writer ANTHONY SPARGO gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell! (Oh no he doesn't! Oh yes he does!)Pantomime season is almost upon on us in the UK, and so it's fitting that we plucked a panto legend from the queue of damned souls this week. Anthony has appeared in ten pantomimes, writing four of them - his Dick Whittington won 'Best Script' at the 2025 UK Pantomime Awards. We got to
Felix White, musician & writer (Maccabees, Tailenders, 86TVs)
Musician, writer, and sports fan FELIX WHITE selects the five songs he will meet in Hell!Well known as a member of the recently reunited Maccabees, and one third of the Tailenders podcast, Felix is also a great non-fiction writer. We got to talk to him about his new book, Whatever Will Be Will Be: A Matter of Life and Football in which he attended every round of last season's FA Cup. It's a great
Catherine Tregenna, screenwriter
Screenwriter CATHERINE TREGENNA shows (not tells) us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Catherine is much in demand as a screenwriter, having written for Lewis, Law and Order UK, and the Bergerac reboot. As well as talking us through her Infernal Playlist, Catherine tells us about writing for Torchwood and Doctor Who; her crime drama The One That Got Away, which was filmed in both English and W
Louie Stowell, writer & illustrator
Author LOUIE STOWELL guides us through the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Louie told us all about her bestselling series of children's books, which revolve around the Norse god Loki in the former of an eleven year old boy. They're very funny and you should read them if you haven't already. We also uncovered the heinous crime that got Louie sent to Hell, welcomed four artists who have never been
Gill German MP, politician
Politician GILL GERMAN MP gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Gill is a Labour MP, who has represented the constituency of Clwyd North since 2024. Aside from assembling her infernal Playlist, Gill told us what it is like being a new MP, the changes she hopes to have a hand in bringing to the UK Parliament, and the cabinet position she would fill in Hell. We also found time to talk about
Justin Lewis, writer
Writer and pop music expert JUSTIN LEWIS gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Justin's latest book, Into the Groove, is a fun, fact-packed race through 1980s pop music, so we had a lot of fun talking about that. We also found time to touch on Radio X, Liz Kershaw's wrongun ways, how to write a biography in seven weeks, and the terrors of press day for a TV listings compiler.You can find o
Nick Roche, comics artist & writer
Comic creator NICK ROCHE gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Nick is a prolific writer and artist in comics, having written or drawn loads of the world's most beloved characters, including Doctor Who, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Spider-Man, Judge Dredd and, most notably, Transformers. We talked about Stan Lee, street theatre, autobots at the Last Supper and loads more.You can find out
Molly Naylor, writer & podcaster (+ LOADS more)
This time performer, writer, director and podcaster MOLLY NAYLOR gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!We talked about Molly's excellent podcast, Making Trouble, in which she interviews artists about the trouble they're having with the things they're making. (It's excellent, and can be heard here, or where you get your podcasts). We also found time to discuss wedding cringe, what directin
Ed Aldridge (AltSHIFT), adult film-maker
Adult film-maker ED ALDRIDGE of AltSHIFT blows through the five tracks he will meet in Hell!We talk to Ed about how he became involved in making adult films*, the difficulties in making it pay, the teacher who tried to shame his tastes when he started school, and, most of all, we talk about Blowie, Ed's new 'sexy horror' feature film, which is set in the world of adult films without being an adult
Alexander Wolfe, musician
Musician ALEXANDER WOLFE talks us through the five tracks he will meet in Hell!As well as assembling an excellent Infernal Playlist, Alexander tells us about his forthcoming album, Everythinglessness, which is a narrative about mental health. We learn about how to make a concept album, writing for TV, smelly shoes, depression, AND Alex Gale delivers the most controversial statement of the show so
Katie Gill, comedian (Extended Patreon Edition)
Comedian KATIE GILL gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Katie takes us through life as a stand up comedian, the differences between performing in English and Welsh, and she introduces us to the trash banger: a song that is rubbish but is also sort of great.This is the Extended Patreon Version of this episode, usually only available to our Patreon supporters. If you want quality extended
Melinda Salisbury, writer
Young Adult fiction superstar MELINDA SALISBURY gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Aside from choosing her Infernal Playlist, Melinda told us about how the double whammy of writing fan fiction and getting fired put her on the road to becoming a four time Carnegie Medal nominee and bestseller; her pandemic era food mishap; and why you can never return to where you came from. You find ou
Julia Raeside, writer
Journalist and novelist JULIA RAESIDE gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!We're back! We're thrilled to be kicking off season three with Julia, whose excellent debut novel Don't Make Me Laugh has just come out in paperback. It's a hilarious post-#MeToo revenge thriller, set in the world of stand-up comedy. We talked about the culture of silence around the bad behaviour of successful men
Manilla Times, band
Irish-Welsh indie rock band MANILLA TIMES give us the five tracks they will meet in Hell!We welcomed singer Jack, bassist Ollie, and guitarist Jase to hell for our first ever triple soul reaping. They told us about playing Glastonbury; what would need to be played for a satisfying Busted gig; why their drummer did not arrive in Hell with the rest of them, AND Alex asks the question we've all been
Adam Kotsko, author & theologian
Author and academic ADAM KOTSKO gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Adam is a scholar of theology, and has written extensively about the devil and demons, so it was a real pleasure to get someone down here who didn't have to go through orientation. That's not all Adam does, however. As well as being a prolific academic with a string of books about politics and Christianity to his name, h
Stephen Lobo, actor
Actor STEPHEN LOBO gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Stephen has appeared in tonnes of huge genre shows, including the X-Files, The Flash, Snowpiercer, Arrow, Travelers, Fringe, and Continuum, in which he played time travelling con-man Kellogg. He also appeared in the excellent Canadian film Donkeyhead, and is currently in the police procedural Allegiance (On CBC in Canada now, due in
Adam Scott Glasspool, podcaster & musician
Musician and co-host of the 'What is Music?' podcast ADAM SCOTT GLASSPOOL gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!We can a great time talking to Adam, and as well as extracting his Infernal Playlist we talked about the genesis of 'What is Music?', debated whether or not Charli XCX is serious, discussed who we would nominate to sing ALL of recorded music, AND Adam gave us the worst job he's e
Oliver Lansley, screenwriter & actor
Screenwriter and actor OLIVER LANSLEY gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Oli is an incredibly prolific actor and writer (check his IMDB if you don't believe us!). He's responsible for a number of hit tv shows, including Flack with Anna Paquin and Where's Wanda? on Apple TV+.As well as getting his Infernal playlist, we asked Oli about how he gets things made, the rules that streamers hav
Ray Heffernan, songwriter (Part Two)
Songwriter RAY HEFFERNAN gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell! (PART TWO OF TWO)Things are a bit different on Hellish this week. It's our first two-parter and our first sequel (of sorts). After we discussed the authorship of Robbie Williams's hit song 'Angels' with Emma Newman last week, we thought we'd get in touch with the man who co-wrote it but gets none of the credit, and ask him to
Ray Heffernan, songwriter (Part One)
Songwriter RAY HEFFERNAN gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell! (PART ONE OF TWO)Things are a bit different on Hellish this week. It's our first two-parter and our first sequel (of sorts). After we discussed the authorship of Robbie Williams's hit song 'Angels' with Emma Newman last week, we thought we'd get in touch with the man who co-wrote it but gets none of the credit, and ask him to
Emma Newman, writer & podcaster
Fantasy and SF writer - and genuine podcast pioneer - EMMA NEWMAN gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Emma is the Arthur C. Clarke Award nominated author of the Planetfall, Industrial Magic, and Split Worlds series of books, as well as the creator and host of the classic Tea and Jeopardy podcast. We talked about grief, swearing, public speaking, historical accuracy, and the worst job Em
Leoni Jane Kennedy, musician
Singer-songwriter - and incredible guitar player - LEONI JANE KENNEDY gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Leoni tells us all about musician's apprenticeship playing guitar in pubs from the age of eleven; being named the Freddie Mercury scholar at the Academy of Contemporary Music; playing at the Houses of Parliament at fourteen; and having a Rush tribute band play her fifteenth birthday
Casper & Pam, singers
In this special first birthday episode of Hellish, top singing duo CASPER & PAM give us the five tracks they will meet in Hell!Pam Quinn (human) and Casper (dog) have spent the last couple of years delighting the internet with their singing double act. They told us about getting a standing ovation from the judges on America's Got Talent, the history of Casper's special skill, whether or not Si
UKAEA (Dan Jones), musician
Musical pioneer DAN JONES of UKAEA gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Dan talks us through his Infernal Playlist, tells us about making weird music, how he avoids saying his own band's name, and why he makes things hard for himself. He also tells us about the words he hates hearing used to describe his music, what he'd do to the Beatles if really really had to, and a previous "worst job
Marc Burrows, writer-comic-musician
Writer/comic/musician MARC BURROWS gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Marc talked us through his Terry Pratchett biography and the accompanying stand up show; his experiences moderating comments for The Guardian and curating feeds for Twitter; how we should define a 'guilty pleasure' AND he drops some bars to one of the biggest rap hits of the 90s...Book tickets to Marc's Pratchett and
Jenny Colgan, writer
Best-selling novelist JENNY COLGAN gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Jenny is responsible for producing some of the greatest romantic comedies in all of fiction, as well as some of the greatest Doctor Who stories yet to be seen on TV. We talked to her about both of these things, as well as how she is able to produce a new book every year, how she got into writing novels, her early day
Paul Carter, musician (Flotation Toy Warning)
Musician PAUL CARTER of Flotation Toy Warning gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Paul takes us through the five tracks he will meet in Hell, as well as the formation (and near destruction) of Flotation Toy Warning; what it is like to switch between rock star and day job; and whether being good at guitar destroys your punk credentials. Plus, the worst job Paul has ever done causes Hell's
Patrice Lawrence, writer
Writer PATRICE LAWRENCE gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Patrice takes us through her Infernal Playlist, tells us about her new book, gives us the lowdown on the worst job she has ever done, introduces us to two bands we hadn't heard before AND sticks it to two 80s wedding disco favourites. If you're a Patreon subscriber, you can also hear Patrice become the first person to choose so
John Bleasdale, film critic
Film critic, teacher and author JOHN BLEASDALE gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!John tells us all about his new book, The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick, including why he chose the famously fame-shunning director as his subject. We also talk about how even the worst job you've ever done is improved by being a man in the 1980s, we get reacquainted with a band
Janis Pugh, film-maker
Film director and BAFTA winner JANIS PUGH gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Janis tells us all about her excellent debut feature film Chuck Chuck Baby which is now streaming on NOWTV and Sky Cinema in the UK. (Try using Just Watch to find out where you can see it where you are). She also talks about how you become a film maker, writing to Neil Diamond, and working in a chicken factory
Alex Pheby, writer
Author ALEX PHEBY gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Alex talks to us about his Cities of the Weft trilogy, writing a series, and he gives us the worst job he has ever done. And it might just be the worst job we have ever heard about.Alex's new book, WATERBLACK, finishes off his 'Cities of the Weft' trilogy, which includes the amazing Mordew and Malarkoi. All three are published by Gall
Kieron Gillen, writer of comics
Comics writer KIERON GILLEN gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Kieron talks to us about writing Star Wars, working for Marvel, the concept of a curse record, how writing comics is like being Dostoevsky, AND he tells us the worst job he has ever done.We also get an inside look at the comics industry, and some top notch writing advice. If you like that, and want more, then Kieron's podcas
Siân Pattenden, journalist (+ LOADS more!)
Writer, broadcaster, artist, child actor, musician, podcaster, and brief Doctor Who companion SIÂN PATTENDEN gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Siân talks to us about Smash Hits, The Heritage Chart Show and her podcast The Heritage Chart Show Show, not being able to settle on just one thing, what she will always be known for according to some random bloke, AND the worst job she has eve
Dec 24th: Santiago Cabrera
This is it. The Final Countdown has reached its zero. Or its 24. Christmas Eve! Big day tomorrow. Or later today, if you're in most of mainland Europe where they do their celebrating as the first star appears in the sky.Season one of Hellish is over, and the Hellish Advent Calendar of Doom is now also complete. For the last time we are bringing back a former damned soul to add one more song to the
December 23rd: Nina Sosanya
Season one of Hellish may be over, but we are not quite done with you yet. Every day of December we will be bringing back former damned souls to add one more song to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.In this episode, we welcome back actor NINA SOSANYA, who originally joined us for episode seventeen, appropriately enough considering what she picked. Check that out here:&n
December 22nd: Bonnie Hawkins
Season one of Hellish may be over, but we are not quite done with you yet. Every day of December we will be bringing back former damned souls to add one more song to their Infernal Playlists: a Christmas song they cannot stand.In this episode, we welcome back artist BONNIE HAWKINS, who originally joined us for episode nineteen. Check that out here: https://shows.acast.com/hellish/episodes/bon
ADVENT CALENDAR BIRTHDAY BONUS: neverfine
SURPRISE STOP PRESS BONUS ADVENT CALENDAR OF DOOM BIRTHDAY EXTRA EPISODE!Hello!Surprise extra advent calendar episode!We just found out that today is Ashley from neverfine’s birthday!To celebrate, we decided to put out neverfine’s advent calendar episode on the main feed (previously only available to Patreon subscribers!)If you enjoy, thank neverfine, and Ashley for having the good sense to be bor
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